Another Dawn; Act I; Setting the Blame
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zMisplaced Stories [ADMIN use only] › Incredibles, The
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
4
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Category:
zMisplaced Stories [ADMIN use only] › Incredibles, The
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
4
Views:
5,620
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own The Incredibles, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
The Watching Eye
Another Dawn; Lady Ochre; Incredibles, the; Fiction
Beta Reader: englishwitch
Rating/Codes: PG-13; Language, WIP
--
See prologue for full legal disclaimers, conditions, ownerships, etc...
--
THIS WAS WRITTEN AS A SEQUEL TO ENGLISHWITCH’S *TEST OF THE HEART*.
--
Summary; Another Dawn; Act One:
Sequel to englishwitch’s “Test of the Heart”. Sixteen years have passed and the Rydingers lead somewhat normal lives. Violet has her job at the Agency, Tony works, and they’ve produced three beautiful children. But times of peace cannot last forever, and virginity is the hope of a peaceful era.
--
Disclaimer
Pixar and Disney own “The Incredibles” and the animated short “Jack-Jack Attack!” This was written without their permission under poetic and non-profit conditions. This is a work of fiction. I am not responsible for stupidity.
--
my original characters: -
inconsequential characters: “the waitress”, Trusund,
*I will not repeat character names. See previous chapters.
--
Adult situations: None, AL (approx. 6)
This chapter is story oriented. Sure, there were a few places where there could have been some great, steamy, and horribly-written gay sex, but... I don’t write that stuff. I don’t think I can bring myself to write that stuff. Oh, well.
~~Act I: Setting the Blame~~
~~Chapter Three: The Watching Eye~~
...the following morning...
Violet sat at an outdoor table in front of the Café Dégénérer sipping tea, looking for all the world like the average, waiting woman. She glanced at her watch. Half past nine. Rick wasn’t late yet, but he wasn’t early. For whatever reason, she wanted to go back home. Dash had raced off around eight-thirty saying he would be back in an hour or two. Tony’s clothes were just too big for him and they’d burn at any speed. He was planning overseas travel in a matter of hours. She said she trusted him and he disappeared, leaving his dust and a wind. No matter how much she trusted him, the wind of his departing vortex still bothered her.
Tony had readily agreed to let Dash stay, though they had told him the truth. Dash was hiding out from every Super in the world. He hadn’t been framed, but they all suspected *him*. As to the foolish but incredible sex that had happened in his living room, well... Tony didn’t need to know such things.
“Good morning, Violet,” the short, aged Rick Dicker pulled out a chair and sat himself down, slipping his briefcase under his seat, “How’re you doing for yourself these days?”
“I’m good, Rick,” she shook her head to clear it. It wasn’t natural for someone like Rick Dicker to surprise the Super Vanisher, “How are you?”
“Tired,” he nodded sagely to nothing in particular, “How’s the family?”
“Jack-Jack told me you visited them yesterday,” Violet answered tersely, “Why did you want to see me, Rick? I need every check I get.”
“You’ll be paid for today,” he said, “I needed to talk to you.”
The waitress walked up, “What’d’y’like t’order?”
Rick ordered a small sandwich and Violet had the Italian-named soup of the day. Both were silent waiting for their meals. When they arrived, the two spent a moment eating and then; “If you’re going to complain about how Phantrum got what was coming to him, you’re in something like tenth place.”
“No, it has nothing to do with Phantrum. Or Dash, for that matter. I thought you should know first.”
“Get to the chase, Rick. I’m tired and I have an empty house that I guess could do with a good scrub.”
“We both know you’re one of the cleanest Supers and that your house isn’t empty,” the governmental agent stated in a flat voice, “It’s about Psychewave.”
“Unless you’re here to tell me he’s out and he’s coming to kill me, I don’t care. Find Shifter yet?”
“Um...” his face actually flushed with embarrassment, “No, we haven’t found Shifter. And you’re half-right about Psychewave.”
Violet stared at him in disbelief, “What?”
“It’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Violet,” he explained, “We let Psychewave out last week. Now, don’t worry–”
“Don’t worry?” she snapped, conscious of the public around her, “Don’t worry? Tony and I only foiled his plans for world domination! Tony doesn’t have Super powers, remember? Psychewave will flatten him!”
“Psychewave’s changed, Violet,” Rick said in a straight face, “His powers have... mutated. We’re not sure how, but he can’t lift a pebble anymore. He was, as you’ll remember, one of the most powerful telekinetics–”
“Get to the point, Rick.”
“Right,” he collected himself, adjusting his suit to fit just so an angle, “About a year after your wedding, we built a special facility to contain Psychewave; ten miles under solid rock with only one elevator barely small enough to deliver him food. From ten miles, we could watch him without fear of his powers, because they don’t reach that far. We dumped him in and sealed the entrance with solid concrete. We kept him under surveillance, fed him properly, and gave him toiletries. He’s had fifteen years to mull over things. Two weeks ago, he started talking to the guards watching him. Said he changed. Said he had realised the errors of his ways.”
“And you believed him?” Violet asked incredulously, “Just how stupid are you, Rick?”
“I am not incompetent, thank you,” he responded defensively, “I had Trusund come in. Do you remember his power?”
“Truth-telling,” Vi’ answered with a bit of guilt, “Never wrong in what he hears.”
“Exactly. We questioned Psychewave. We ran him down like the Spanish Inquisition, I swear. We asked if he had really lost his powers and he said no. We told him he wasn’t coming up and he said that his powers had changed. Apparently, he can now hear thoughts but not influence them. He also said his telekinetic powers had changed too. Now he can only move things that are within two feet of him. It was so unbelievable, but every word was true.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Violet said, “I’ve heard of powers remaining dormant for years, but disappearing? A Super’s power’s with the Super for life, Rick.”
“We don’t understand it either. But I asked him if he would go after you or your family seeking revenge. He said no and then quite a bit of explaining. I think he might have survived solitary confinement because of you, Violet.”
“What do you mean?”
From a pocket Violet had failed to see, Rick produced a VHS tape and handed it to her. She glanced at it and, finding it unmarked, looked at Rick. He shrugged, “It’s a copy of the interrogation. After you watch it, tell me if you still think he’s bad. I’ll lock him up myself.”
“I don’t want this.”
“Watch it, Violet,” he used his commanding voice as he often did with emerging Supers, “I’m not kidding. It’ll take two hours of your time. I’ve given you a day.”
She shook her head, unconvinced, “By the way, Rick. How did you arrange that?”
“I pulled some strings,” he answered, shrugging, “I called in some debts. Watch the tape. Tell the family about it if you want to or don’t. It won’t matter to anyone either way.”
He looked at his watch and rose to his feet, “I’m sorry I can’t stay much longer. I’m too busy these days. Sometime, I’ll really have to visit.”
Violet got to her feet as she wracked her mind for an event in the near future. To her surprise, a date popped into her head, “It’s Sabrina’s tenth birthday on the twentieth. Do you think you can make it?”
“The twentieth?” he pulled a palm pilot from another pocket and marked in the date, “That’s two weeks from now? Sunday?”
She nodded, thinking, ‘I can’t believe I’d forgotten! She needs a cake, she needs presents... Jezuz, I’m out of it.’
“I will be there,” he said as they shook hands, “Take care of yourself, Violet. Say hello to Dash for me, will you?”
“Of course,” she vented a sarcastic laugh, “Nothing gets past you, does it Rick?”
“I like to think not,” he agreed as a black limousine pulled up to the café, “It’s time to go. Don’t forget to go to work Monday. They’ll be expecting you.”
“See you later, Rick,” she said and, brandishing the video tape, “And thanks.”
“It’s my duty, Violet. Take care of yourself.”
He took his briefcase, stepped away, and entered the limo. The car’s motor grunted as it pulled away and vanished at the next corner. Violet sat back down to finish her soup.
--
Violet had barely walked into the door when the phone rang. She put her groceries down as gently as she could in haste and kicked off her shoes. It rang a fifth time before she grabbed it from the dining room wall, “Hello?”
*Click*
‘Damn kids,’ she thought as she hung up the phone.
With motherly efficiency, she put the groceries in the fridge before opening the door to the basement and calling for her brother. There was no response.
“I guess he’s not back yet.”
She glanced at her watch. It was almost eleven. Where was Dash? She was supposed to watch over him. If she didn’t look after him, what alibi would he have? After what Rick said about Trusund, she wasn’t sure she wanted to trust Dash’s life to such a person.
Who knew? Maybe Psychewave was for real. But she couldn’t bring herself to trust the bastard that had taken her mind. He had used his Super powers to control her, to twist her thoughts to fulfil his world-domination schemes. With Tony’s help, she had broken his spell, but she had been hurt far too much in those few days. She wondered if she would ever recover.
Bad memories tumbled through her mind and she decided she would vacuum the living room to take her mind off such thoughts. It didn’t work. She sat down in the kitchen, worried and aggravated. Her clock said noon but she wasn’t very hungry. Where the fuck was Dash? Why couldn’t she get the past out of her head?
She dug into the liquor cupboard for something to drink. She had the day off? She’d make the best of it, then. Violet was a small woman and probably couldn’t take much alcohol so she grabbed a shot glass from the bottom shelf.
--
When Dash returned to his sister’s house, it was to find her passed out in the kitchen. Judging from the empty bottle of liqueur, Violet was going to have one hell of a headache when she woke up. He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a shawl, draping it over Violet gently. He’d let her sleep.
Once downstairs, he began unpacking his meagre belongings from his bags.
“I was wondering when you’d be back.”
Dash spun around, ready to speed away, and then relaxed when he saw his brother sitting in a tattered lawn chair, “Jezuz, Jack-Jack. You scared me.”
“You said you’d be back in ‘one or two hours’,” his younger brother accused him, “It’s half past noon.”
“I didn’t realise you were around,” he admitted, “I got side-tracked.”
“Dash. You’ve been gone four hours.”
“I got side-tracked,” he repeated sheepishly, “I suppose you think I robbed a bank on my way back?”
“I’m connected directly to headquarters,” the younger Super shook his head, lifting a small radio device for Dash to see, “It *might* be coincidence that a bank was robbed but I don’t think so.”
“It’s good to know you’re on my side,” Dash said sarcastically, “H.Q. must really have you whipped.”
“You don’t get it, Dash,” he shook his head, “I *am* on your side. I’m watching your back when you can’t.”
“You accused me of robbing a bank, Jack. How’m I supposed to believe you?”
“I didn’t say you did it. I said I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a bank is robbed while you’re gone.”
“Just what are you saying, little brother? Someone’s trying to frame me?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“But no one knows I’m here.”
“I did.”
Dash considered a moment and shook off a little laugh, “I guess it really *is* obvious.”
“Of course it is,” Jack-Jack smiled, “But you were never a very original person, Dash. Tell me you have an alibi for the past four hours.”
Dash’s cheeks reddened, “Let’s just say I was visiting a mysterious person, alright?”
“Oh,” the smile disappeared, “Oh. Um... Well... Next time you visit this... ‘mysterious person’, I’m going to have to check... whoever it is out, alright? ‘Specially if you’re gone for more than half an hour.”
“You don’t want to meet, Jack,” the older brother assured him, “You really don’t.”
“Rick will want to confirm your alibi next time, Dash,” he warned, “It’s a three-strikes-you’re-out deal. I’ll cover you this time, but whoever’s trying to frame you has people watching you. Or at least listening in.”
Jack-Jack rose to his feet, “Good to see you again, Dash. Don’t mention my visit to Vi’, ‘kay? She doesn’t need more stress.”
“I’ll ask Tony if I can work for him when he gets home. The exercise will do me good and it’ll take a load off Vi’s shoulders.”
“Good thinking,” the youth blinked in surprise, “You’re always thinking about Vi’, aren’t you?”
“I’ve looked out for her ever since Psychewave,” Dash clenched his fists at the thought, “I swore no one’d hurt her ever again.”
“Working for Tony will give you something to do and make headquarters happy. You understand, right?”
“Paranoia does a lot of weird things to people.”
Jack-Jack smiled and waved goodbye, “See you around, big brother.”
“Thanks, Jack.”
“Just doing my job.”
Jack-Jack nodded and disappeared up the stairs.
--
...that afternoon...
When the children came home, Uncle Dash tried his best to keep them quiet. Finally, he became fed up and suggested they all go out to a movie. Sabrina shook her head and promised silence as she did her weekend homework. So Dash took Jarr and Kyrie and walked out the door, leaving the youngest Rydinger to tell Tony where they had gone.
“Don’t eat out, Uncle Dash,” Sabrina warned him.
Violet was still asleep when Tony came home. Sabrina gave him Dash’s message as he removed the bottle and glass. He was in the middle of making supper when uncle, nephew, and niece came back. Jarr set the table quietly and it wasn’t long before they sat around the dining room table.
Tony gently woke his wife, “Violet? Love?”
She groaned, “God damn it. I have a headache. I really shouldn’t have taken the whole thing.”
“Supper’s ready?”
“Oh?” she sniffed the air, “Smells wonderful. Is there a talent you don’t have?”
“We’ll come to the end of the list eventually.”
Supporting her with one arm and carrying the fettuccini alfredo with the other, he brought her to the dining room and sat her down. She gave an accusing look to Dash and smiled apologetically to her children, “Sorry, kids. Your mother’s not feeling well.”
“’s okay, mom,” Kyrie smiled back, “You’ve got a lot on your mind.”
“I made some fettuccini alfredo tonight,” Tony declared setting the grand spaghetti platter down, “And I’ll be right back with some peas.”
The food was a dozen rays of sunshine shooting through Violet’s dark clouds. Her headache didn’t disappear, but she was able to ignore it.
“So what is it you do, Tony?” Dash asked his brother-in-law, “Construction, right?”
“Yeah. I’m the boss who gets his hands dirty,” Tony answered between bites, “Why? You need something to do?”
“Something to keep my mind off...” he glanced at the children whose eyes were on their food, “Everything, you know?”
“I could always use an extra hand,” Tony shrugged, “Sure. You can come with me Monday morning. You’re tougher than you look, aren’t you?”
Dash grinned, “You could say that.”
Violet pleaded illness when she finished her meal and kissed her children goodnight. The kids ran off to watch TV on a low volume. Dash joined them while Tony cleaned up. The dishes weren’t difficult to clean and he was done sooner than usual. He entered the living room to hear the news announcer, “...Robber struck again this morning; his greatest heist yet taking 1.2 million from the Greenbank Vault as they opened for business. The Wind Robber has now stolen over 10 million since he began. Officials continue to refuse comment.”
Tony looked over at his wife’s brother and their eyes met.
To be continued...
*
So what WAS the point of this chapter? I’m not sure about that either. Don’t worry. Someone will get it ON! in the near future. Like... Chapter 5...
Lady OCHRE
*
CHANGE
Further chapters will no longer be available on (adult-fanfiction.org). Please email me if you want more. The completed Part 1 is 9 chapters (plus prologue), followed by an interim. Part 2 is 9 chapters followed by another interim. Part 3 is the conclusion, followed by an epilogue. See my author profile for the email address.
Beta Reader: englishwitch
Rating/Codes: PG-13; Language, WIP
--
See prologue for full legal disclaimers, conditions, ownerships, etc...
--
THIS WAS WRITTEN AS A SEQUEL TO ENGLISHWITCH’S *TEST OF THE HEART*.
--
Summary; Another Dawn; Act One:
Sequel to englishwitch’s “Test of the Heart”. Sixteen years have passed and the Rydingers lead somewhat normal lives. Violet has her job at the Agency, Tony works, and they’ve produced three beautiful children. But times of peace cannot last forever, and virginity is the hope of a peaceful era.
--
Disclaimer
Pixar and Disney own “The Incredibles” and the animated short “Jack-Jack Attack!” This was written without their permission under poetic and non-profit conditions. This is a work of fiction. I am not responsible for stupidity.
--
my original characters: -
inconsequential characters: “the waitress”, Trusund,
*I will not repeat character names. See previous chapters.
--
Adult situations: None, AL (approx. 6)
This chapter is story oriented. Sure, there were a few places where there could have been some great, steamy, and horribly-written gay sex, but... I don’t write that stuff. I don’t think I can bring myself to write that stuff. Oh, well.
~~Act I: Setting the Blame~~
~~Chapter Three: The Watching Eye~~
...the following morning...
Violet sat at an outdoor table in front of the Café Dégénérer sipping tea, looking for all the world like the average, waiting woman. She glanced at her watch. Half past nine. Rick wasn’t late yet, but he wasn’t early. For whatever reason, she wanted to go back home. Dash had raced off around eight-thirty saying he would be back in an hour or two. Tony’s clothes were just too big for him and they’d burn at any speed. He was planning overseas travel in a matter of hours. She said she trusted him and he disappeared, leaving his dust and a wind. No matter how much she trusted him, the wind of his departing vortex still bothered her.
Tony had readily agreed to let Dash stay, though they had told him the truth. Dash was hiding out from every Super in the world. He hadn’t been framed, but they all suspected *him*. As to the foolish but incredible sex that had happened in his living room, well... Tony didn’t need to know such things.
“Good morning, Violet,” the short, aged Rick Dicker pulled out a chair and sat himself down, slipping his briefcase under his seat, “How’re you doing for yourself these days?”
“I’m good, Rick,” she shook her head to clear it. It wasn’t natural for someone like Rick Dicker to surprise the Super Vanisher, “How are you?”
“Tired,” he nodded sagely to nothing in particular, “How’s the family?”
“Jack-Jack told me you visited them yesterday,” Violet answered tersely, “Why did you want to see me, Rick? I need every check I get.”
“You’ll be paid for today,” he said, “I needed to talk to you.”
The waitress walked up, “What’d’y’like t’order?”
Rick ordered a small sandwich and Violet had the Italian-named soup of the day. Both were silent waiting for their meals. When they arrived, the two spent a moment eating and then; “If you’re going to complain about how Phantrum got what was coming to him, you’re in something like tenth place.”
“No, it has nothing to do with Phantrum. Or Dash, for that matter. I thought you should know first.”
“Get to the chase, Rick. I’m tired and I have an empty house that I guess could do with a good scrub.”
“We both know you’re one of the cleanest Supers and that your house isn’t empty,” the governmental agent stated in a flat voice, “It’s about Psychewave.”
“Unless you’re here to tell me he’s out and he’s coming to kill me, I don’t care. Find Shifter yet?”
“Um...” his face actually flushed with embarrassment, “No, we haven’t found Shifter. And you’re half-right about Psychewave.”
Violet stared at him in disbelief, “What?”
“It’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Violet,” he explained, “We let Psychewave out last week. Now, don’t worry–”
“Don’t worry?” she snapped, conscious of the public around her, “Don’t worry? Tony and I only foiled his plans for world domination! Tony doesn’t have Super powers, remember? Psychewave will flatten him!”
“Psychewave’s changed, Violet,” Rick said in a straight face, “His powers have... mutated. We’re not sure how, but he can’t lift a pebble anymore. He was, as you’ll remember, one of the most powerful telekinetics–”
“Get to the point, Rick.”
“Right,” he collected himself, adjusting his suit to fit just so an angle, “About a year after your wedding, we built a special facility to contain Psychewave; ten miles under solid rock with only one elevator barely small enough to deliver him food. From ten miles, we could watch him without fear of his powers, because they don’t reach that far. We dumped him in and sealed the entrance with solid concrete. We kept him under surveillance, fed him properly, and gave him toiletries. He’s had fifteen years to mull over things. Two weeks ago, he started talking to the guards watching him. Said he changed. Said he had realised the errors of his ways.”
“And you believed him?” Violet asked incredulously, “Just how stupid are you, Rick?”
“I am not incompetent, thank you,” he responded defensively, “I had Trusund come in. Do you remember his power?”
“Truth-telling,” Vi’ answered with a bit of guilt, “Never wrong in what he hears.”
“Exactly. We questioned Psychewave. We ran him down like the Spanish Inquisition, I swear. We asked if he had really lost his powers and he said no. We told him he wasn’t coming up and he said that his powers had changed. Apparently, he can now hear thoughts but not influence them. He also said his telekinetic powers had changed too. Now he can only move things that are within two feet of him. It was so unbelievable, but every word was true.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Violet said, “I’ve heard of powers remaining dormant for years, but disappearing? A Super’s power’s with the Super for life, Rick.”
“We don’t understand it either. But I asked him if he would go after you or your family seeking revenge. He said no and then quite a bit of explaining. I think he might have survived solitary confinement because of you, Violet.”
“What do you mean?”
From a pocket Violet had failed to see, Rick produced a VHS tape and handed it to her. She glanced at it and, finding it unmarked, looked at Rick. He shrugged, “It’s a copy of the interrogation. After you watch it, tell me if you still think he’s bad. I’ll lock him up myself.”
“I don’t want this.”
“Watch it, Violet,” he used his commanding voice as he often did with emerging Supers, “I’m not kidding. It’ll take two hours of your time. I’ve given you a day.”
She shook her head, unconvinced, “By the way, Rick. How did you arrange that?”
“I pulled some strings,” he answered, shrugging, “I called in some debts. Watch the tape. Tell the family about it if you want to or don’t. It won’t matter to anyone either way.”
He looked at his watch and rose to his feet, “I’m sorry I can’t stay much longer. I’m too busy these days. Sometime, I’ll really have to visit.”
Violet got to her feet as she wracked her mind for an event in the near future. To her surprise, a date popped into her head, “It’s Sabrina’s tenth birthday on the twentieth. Do you think you can make it?”
“The twentieth?” he pulled a palm pilot from another pocket and marked in the date, “That’s two weeks from now? Sunday?”
She nodded, thinking, ‘I can’t believe I’d forgotten! She needs a cake, she needs presents... Jezuz, I’m out of it.’
“I will be there,” he said as they shook hands, “Take care of yourself, Violet. Say hello to Dash for me, will you?”
“Of course,” she vented a sarcastic laugh, “Nothing gets past you, does it Rick?”
“I like to think not,” he agreed as a black limousine pulled up to the café, “It’s time to go. Don’t forget to go to work Monday. They’ll be expecting you.”
“See you later, Rick,” she said and, brandishing the video tape, “And thanks.”
“It’s my duty, Violet. Take care of yourself.”
He took his briefcase, stepped away, and entered the limo. The car’s motor grunted as it pulled away and vanished at the next corner. Violet sat back down to finish her soup.
--
Violet had barely walked into the door when the phone rang. She put her groceries down as gently as she could in haste and kicked off her shoes. It rang a fifth time before she grabbed it from the dining room wall, “Hello?”
*Click*
‘Damn kids,’ she thought as she hung up the phone.
With motherly efficiency, she put the groceries in the fridge before opening the door to the basement and calling for her brother. There was no response.
“I guess he’s not back yet.”
She glanced at her watch. It was almost eleven. Where was Dash? She was supposed to watch over him. If she didn’t look after him, what alibi would he have? After what Rick said about Trusund, she wasn’t sure she wanted to trust Dash’s life to such a person.
Who knew? Maybe Psychewave was for real. But she couldn’t bring herself to trust the bastard that had taken her mind. He had used his Super powers to control her, to twist her thoughts to fulfil his world-domination schemes. With Tony’s help, she had broken his spell, but she had been hurt far too much in those few days. She wondered if she would ever recover.
Bad memories tumbled through her mind and she decided she would vacuum the living room to take her mind off such thoughts. It didn’t work. She sat down in the kitchen, worried and aggravated. Her clock said noon but she wasn’t very hungry. Where the fuck was Dash? Why couldn’t she get the past out of her head?
She dug into the liquor cupboard for something to drink. She had the day off? She’d make the best of it, then. Violet was a small woman and probably couldn’t take much alcohol so she grabbed a shot glass from the bottom shelf.
--
When Dash returned to his sister’s house, it was to find her passed out in the kitchen. Judging from the empty bottle of liqueur, Violet was going to have one hell of a headache when she woke up. He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a shawl, draping it over Violet gently. He’d let her sleep.
Once downstairs, he began unpacking his meagre belongings from his bags.
“I was wondering when you’d be back.”
Dash spun around, ready to speed away, and then relaxed when he saw his brother sitting in a tattered lawn chair, “Jezuz, Jack-Jack. You scared me.”
“You said you’d be back in ‘one or two hours’,” his younger brother accused him, “It’s half past noon.”
“I didn’t realise you were around,” he admitted, “I got side-tracked.”
“Dash. You’ve been gone four hours.”
“I got side-tracked,” he repeated sheepishly, “I suppose you think I robbed a bank on my way back?”
“I’m connected directly to headquarters,” the younger Super shook his head, lifting a small radio device for Dash to see, “It *might* be coincidence that a bank was robbed but I don’t think so.”
“It’s good to know you’re on my side,” Dash said sarcastically, “H.Q. must really have you whipped.”
“You don’t get it, Dash,” he shook his head, “I *am* on your side. I’m watching your back when you can’t.”
“You accused me of robbing a bank, Jack. How’m I supposed to believe you?”
“I didn’t say you did it. I said I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a bank is robbed while you’re gone.”
“Just what are you saying, little brother? Someone’s trying to frame me?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“But no one knows I’m here.”
“I did.”
Dash considered a moment and shook off a little laugh, “I guess it really *is* obvious.”
“Of course it is,” Jack-Jack smiled, “But you were never a very original person, Dash. Tell me you have an alibi for the past four hours.”
Dash’s cheeks reddened, “Let’s just say I was visiting a mysterious person, alright?”
“Oh,” the smile disappeared, “Oh. Um... Well... Next time you visit this... ‘mysterious person’, I’m going to have to check... whoever it is out, alright? ‘Specially if you’re gone for more than half an hour.”
“You don’t want to meet, Jack,” the older brother assured him, “You really don’t.”
“Rick will want to confirm your alibi next time, Dash,” he warned, “It’s a three-strikes-you’re-out deal. I’ll cover you this time, but whoever’s trying to frame you has people watching you. Or at least listening in.”
Jack-Jack rose to his feet, “Good to see you again, Dash. Don’t mention my visit to Vi’, ‘kay? She doesn’t need more stress.”
“I’ll ask Tony if I can work for him when he gets home. The exercise will do me good and it’ll take a load off Vi’s shoulders.”
“Good thinking,” the youth blinked in surprise, “You’re always thinking about Vi’, aren’t you?”
“I’ve looked out for her ever since Psychewave,” Dash clenched his fists at the thought, “I swore no one’d hurt her ever again.”
“Working for Tony will give you something to do and make headquarters happy. You understand, right?”
“Paranoia does a lot of weird things to people.”
Jack-Jack smiled and waved goodbye, “See you around, big brother.”
“Thanks, Jack.”
“Just doing my job.”
Jack-Jack nodded and disappeared up the stairs.
--
...that afternoon...
When the children came home, Uncle Dash tried his best to keep them quiet. Finally, he became fed up and suggested they all go out to a movie. Sabrina shook her head and promised silence as she did her weekend homework. So Dash took Jarr and Kyrie and walked out the door, leaving the youngest Rydinger to tell Tony where they had gone.
“Don’t eat out, Uncle Dash,” Sabrina warned him.
Violet was still asleep when Tony came home. Sabrina gave him Dash’s message as he removed the bottle and glass. He was in the middle of making supper when uncle, nephew, and niece came back. Jarr set the table quietly and it wasn’t long before they sat around the dining room table.
Tony gently woke his wife, “Violet? Love?”
She groaned, “God damn it. I have a headache. I really shouldn’t have taken the whole thing.”
“Supper’s ready?”
“Oh?” she sniffed the air, “Smells wonderful. Is there a talent you don’t have?”
“We’ll come to the end of the list eventually.”
Supporting her with one arm and carrying the fettuccini alfredo with the other, he brought her to the dining room and sat her down. She gave an accusing look to Dash and smiled apologetically to her children, “Sorry, kids. Your mother’s not feeling well.”
“’s okay, mom,” Kyrie smiled back, “You’ve got a lot on your mind.”
“I made some fettuccini alfredo tonight,” Tony declared setting the grand spaghetti platter down, “And I’ll be right back with some peas.”
The food was a dozen rays of sunshine shooting through Violet’s dark clouds. Her headache didn’t disappear, but she was able to ignore it.
“So what is it you do, Tony?” Dash asked his brother-in-law, “Construction, right?”
“Yeah. I’m the boss who gets his hands dirty,” Tony answered between bites, “Why? You need something to do?”
“Something to keep my mind off...” he glanced at the children whose eyes were on their food, “Everything, you know?”
“I could always use an extra hand,” Tony shrugged, “Sure. You can come with me Monday morning. You’re tougher than you look, aren’t you?”
Dash grinned, “You could say that.”
Violet pleaded illness when she finished her meal and kissed her children goodnight. The kids ran off to watch TV on a low volume. Dash joined them while Tony cleaned up. The dishes weren’t difficult to clean and he was done sooner than usual. He entered the living room to hear the news announcer, “...Robber struck again this morning; his greatest heist yet taking 1.2 million from the Greenbank Vault as they opened for business. The Wind Robber has now stolen over 10 million since he began. Officials continue to refuse comment.”
Tony looked over at his wife’s brother and their eyes met.
To be continued...
*
So what WAS the point of this chapter? I’m not sure about that either. Don’t worry. Someone will get it ON! in the near future. Like... Chapter 5...
Lady OCHRE
*
CHANGE
Further chapters will no longer be available on (adult-fanfiction.org). Please email me if you want more. The completed Part 1 is 9 chapters (plus prologue), followed by an interim. Part 2 is 9 chapters followed by another interim. Part 3 is the conclusion, followed by an epilogue. See my author profile for the email address.